Mavs get No. 5 pick, could use it in trade …
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~28541~2231336,00.html
All it took was the news out of Dallas of a trade Wednesday night to make
everything that had seemed so significant to the Lakers earlier in the day
-- Derek Fisher, Rudy Tomjanovich, the NBA Draft -- suddenly pale in
comparison.
In what could be the prelude to a Shaquille O'Neal trade today, the Mavericks
agreed to a trade with the Washington Wizards in which they would acquire the
No. 5 pick in tonight's draft plus Jerry Stackhouse and Christian Laettner in
exchange for Antawn Jamison.
The Dallas/Washington trade is pending approval by the league office this
morning.
An NBA executive said late Wednesday that the Mavericks now would approach the
Lakers with a new offer of Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard and the No. 5 pick in
exchange for O'Neal.
To make the deal work, Dallas would have to find a way to add another $8
million or so in salary owed to a player or players as a way of balancing the
NBA-high $27.7 million O'Neal is set to make next season.
Owner Mark Cuban had told the Dallas Morning News on Wednesday that Nowitzki
would not be included in an O'Neal trade. But the executive speaking late
Wednesday said the Mavericks' new offer would include the sixth-year All-Star
forward.
Dallas still would be able to pair O'Neal in a lineup with Antoine Walker,
Michael Finley and Steve Nash should it trade away Nowitzki.
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak declined to address O'Neal's situation
in detail during a Wednesday conference call with reporters, which ended only
a few minutes before the trade was announced.
O'Neal's business manager, Mike Parris, did not return multiple messages
Wednesday.
"I'm always optimistic that things work out for the best and I feel this will
also," Kupchak said. "Obviously, the best of all worlds is that we keep this
team together and carry on and win."
O'Neal demanded a trade Friday after Kupchak refused to rule out trading the
center the previous day. And Cuban has said the Mavericks are interested in
acquiring O'Neal.
Earlier Wednesday, Fisher decided as expected to opt out of his contract and
become a free agent.
The 29-year-old guard secured his place in Lakers' lore with the shot he
launched in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals against San Antonio
last month. But with a spot in the starting lineup not assured next season,
Fisher now will see what other teams have to offer.
Fisher's decision came a day after Gary Payton decided to stay with the Lakers
another year. Fisher still could return to Los Angeles for a ninth season but
cannot start negotiating a new contract until July.
However, Fisher left it with the Lakers that he would like to continue playing
for the team.
"It's my understanding that Derek does want to finish his career here and
that's something we'd like to see happen," Kupchak said.
In Fisher, the Lakers could lose one of their most popular players, who
selflessly accepted a reserve role when Payton arrived last summer. Fisher won
three championships with the Lakers, made numerous community appearances and
was close to Kobe Bryant.
On Wednesday, Kupchak praised Fisher for making a sacrifice perhaps greater
than those made by Payton or Karl Malone, who took multimillion-dollar pay
cuts to sign with the Lakers.
Fisher saw his playing time drop by more than 13 minutes per game on average
this season and his shooting percentage dipped in turn, down to 35 percent.
But Fisher did not grumble about coming off the bench, even though he grew
frustrated.
In the end, Fisher hit the most memorable shot of the season against the Spurs,
helping the Lakers dispatch the defending NBA champions. And Kupchak said he
didn't think Fisher's return was as simple as being a starter or not.
"I know Derek wants to play and he wants to play significant minutes,"
Kupchak said. "But that may or may not mean he wants to be a starter. I'm not
so sure Derek is that vain that he needs to be a starter. Nothing about his
game suggests that."
Fisher was due to make $3 million next season. Houston has expressed interest
in Fisher, though that could change if Steve Francis is not traded to Orlando,
a deal that seemed tenuous Wednesday.
As for Tomjanovich, the next move belongs to the Lakers. After interviewing
Tuesday with Kupchak and owner Jerry Buss, Tomjanovich was headed home to
Houston on Wednesday.
Kupchak said progress in the coaching search could be made next week, once the
draft has concluded and before free agency has started. Kupchak said he didn't
think the process would stretch past mid-July.
Meanwhile, there's no telling how the draft will take shape should the Lakers
obtain the Mavericks' No. 5 pick. But they will be in a familiar position with
the No. 27 pick they already have.
In the past seven years, the Lakers have not picked higher than No. 23, leaving
the team to take players from major colleges who came ready to contribute to
championship teams. But that could change this year.
Most mock drafts have had the Lakers taking Brazilian forward Anderson Varejao
or Slovenian guard Sasha Vujacic. The Lakers then could opt to have either
player remain in Europe with his club team for another season.
With Fisher and Bryant both having opted out, Kupchak said the Lakers could
take a guard with the pick. They also need frontcourt help with Slava
Medvedenko a free agent and Malone's future uncertain.
"It always seems to go in the late 20s, there are more smaller players
available than bigger players available," Kupchak said. "My guess is that we'll
end up looking at a guard, just by sheer numbers."
Also: The agent for Malone, Dwight Manley, said Malone would make his decision
about returning "later rather than sooner," and said Malone's health concerns
would be the No. 1 issue. Kupchak said he expected Rick Fox to return next
season after Fox went unclaimed in Tuesday's expansion draft.
--
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